Spray valve



E. H, BUCKNELI. ETAL 3,415,454

SPRAY VALVE Dec. 10, 1968 Filed June 13, 1966 will.)

"'iiiiiiilm United States Patent O 3,415,454 SPRAY VALVE Ernest H. Bucknell, Los Angeles, and Jack K. Rauh and Irving A. Ward, Hacienda Heights, Calif., assignors of ten percent to estate of Ralph E. Bletcher, deceased, live percent to Frederick Robertson, five percent to Gary Robertson, ten percent to Lenora Bucknell, ten percent to Richard J. Bletcher, ten percent to Dan G. Liston, iive percent to Dan G. Liston as trustee for Carol A. Liston, ive percent to James H. Lston, ten percent to Hazel Brondum, 10 percent to Pearl Bletcher, live percent to Marcia Liston, 10 percent to Ernest H. Bucknell, and five percent to Dan G. Liston as trustee for Daniel E. Liston Filed June 13, 1966, Ser. No. 557,171 6 Claims. (Cl. 239-562) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A spray valve having a handle, which may be molded, and which has a discharge opening therein and a valve seat spaced from the opening. A nozzle is mounted within the discharge opening in Huid communication with a hollow valve stem, and a spring is provided for biasing said valve stem to seat on the valve seat. A trigger is provided for positioning the valve stem. A nozzle supporting element may be provided within the discharge opening for supporting the nozzle and valve stem.

This invention relates to an improved spray valve.

lt is an object of this invention to provide a spray valve which may be readily and easily assembled.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device which when assembled is locked in place against any dislodgment.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a device wherein the possibility of any parts coming loose or malfunction is eliminated.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a spray valve which is unaffected by changes or surges in line pressure.

Still a further object is to provide a spray valve particularly adapted for use with an injection molded handle wherein the number of critical dimensions is reduced to a minimum.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description:

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying this invention with portions of the handle broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary View similar to FIGURE 1 with parts broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 with the valve in the open or ow position.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective of the housing.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective of the trigger.

A ferrule which receives the extremity of a hose (not shown) directing flow from a water supply (not shown) screws into one end 11 of handle 12. An internal shoulder 14 is abutted by a relatively rigid washer 16 which in turn clamps the resilient washer against the extremity of ferrule 10.

The remaining end 15 of handle 12 is at an angle with respect to the axis of the handle to direct ow in the desired `direction and receives the spray valve hereinafter described.

A hollow stem 18 terminates at its lower extremity in a ilared head 20 which has an inturned flange 22 at its periphery receiving an out-turned flange 24 of nozzle retainer 26 Which is generally cylindrical in shape. Nozzle 28 has a series of divergent ow passages 30 therethrough and an ICC external annular shoulder 32 which abuts inturned flange 34 of nozzle retainer 26.

The nozzle assembly described immediately above is inserted into housing 36 with stem 18 projecting through aperture 38 in the housing. The housing has outwardly and downwardly projecting tabs 40 which tit into an annular groove 42 in the handle above end 15 thereof to lock the housing in place. Beneath tabs 40 of housing 26 are formed feet 44 each having an inturned ange 46 thereon. The feet may be bent outwardly as shown in phantom in FIGURE 4 to permit insertion of the nozzle assembly and then returned to the normal position forming a base for one ,end of spring 48. The remaining end of spring 48 bears against head 20 to bias the nozzle assembly to the closed position of FIGURE 2.

The upper extremity of stem 18 'carries a resilient valve element 50 surrounding the stem. A valve seat 52 is formed in handle 12 in the path of valve element 50 whereby in the closed position the valve element is held against valve seat 52 by spring 48 and flow through nozzle 28 is shut ott. A packing Washer 54 is mounted upon stem 18 which is held by water pressure against the upper end of housing 36 preventing leakage around same.

A trigger 56 projects through slot 58 in housing 36 and has a cut-out 59 permitting same to partially encircle stern 18 and bear against the upper surface of head 20. A pro tuberance 60 on housing 36 projects through slot 62 in the trigger providing a fulcrum therefor. Handle 12 has a depression 64 formed therein to receive and house trigger 56.

The end 15 of handle 12 has a slot 66 formed therein permitting insertion of the trigger 56 into housing 36 after the latter has been inserted into end 15. A sleeve 67 is then placed over end 15 the upper extremity 68 of which restricts pivoting of the trigger 56 and hence locks same into place.

In operation with the trigger 56 released the spring 48 urges the valve closed shutting oit flow. When in use handle 12 is grasped in the palm of the hand and end 1S aimed in the desired direction. When flow is desired the trigger 56 is depressed by the fingers pivoting same around the fulcrum and urging the nozzle assembly away from valve seat 52 against spring pressure to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 permitting iiow through nozzle 28 until the trigger is released and spring 48 returns the nozzle assembly to the position illustrated in FIG-URE 2 terminating further flow.

While what hereinbefore has been described is the preerred embodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modications can be resorted to without departing from the scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. A spray valve comprising a handle having a discharge opening therein and a valve seat spaced from said discharge opening, a valve element within said discharge opening and a Valve element supporting means coupled with said housing for retaining said valve element within said discharge opening, said valve element including a hollow valve stem in direct iiuid communication with a nozzle for supplying uid to said nozzle, biasing means coupled with said valve element and said supporting means normally biasing said valve stem to seat on said valve seat to prevent uid ow through said valve stem and said nozzle, and trigger means projecting through openings in said housing and supporting means and engaging said valve element for moving said valve stern with respect to said valve seat.

2. A spray valve comprising a handle having a discharge opening and a valve seat spaced therefrom, a nozzle fitting within said discharge opening, a hollow valve stem coupled to said nozzle and directing ow to said nozzle, a valve element mounted upon said valve stem, means biasing said valve stem to seat said valve element on said valve seat thereby shutting 01T flow through said valve stem, a nozzle supporting element in said discharge opening and supporting said nozzle and said valve stem with respect to said valve seat, said biasing means having one extremity bearing upon said nozzle and the remaining extremity bearing upon said nozzle supporting element, and trigger means projecting through said handle for positioning said valve stem with respect to said valve seat.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said trigger means projects through slots in said handle and said nozzle supporting element to engage and move said valve stem with respect to said valve seat.

4. The combination set forth in :claim Z wherein said handle has an annular groove adjacent the discharge opening and said nozzle supporting element has tabs thereon engaging said groove.

5. A spray valve comprising a handle having a discharge opening and a valve seat spaced therefrom, a nozzle tting within said discharge opening, a hollow valve stem directing ow to said nozzle, a valve element mounted upon said valve stem, means biasing said valve stem to seat said valve element on said valve seat thereby shutting off flow through said valve stern, a nozzle supporting element insertable into said discharge opening supporting said nozzle and said valve stem with respect to said valve seat, and trigger means projecting through slots in said handle and in said nozzle supporting element to engage and move said valve stem with respect to said valve seat.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein a sleeve encompasses said discharge opening and limits pivoting of said trigger means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,011,314 12/1911 Canner 251-353 2,457,993 1/1949 Fletcher et al 239-583 2,899,169 8/1959 Klingler 239-583 X M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

H. NATTER, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

Disclaimer 3,415,454.-Emest H. Bucknell, Los Angeles, Calif. and Jac/s K. Raub. and Irving A. Ward, Hacienda Heights, Calif. SPRAY VALVE. Patent dated Dec. 10, 1968. Disclaimer filed Feb. 23, 1976, by the assignee, Pearl Whz'te- Bleteher, part interest. Hereby enters this disclaimer to her entire interest in all claims of Said patent.

[Ocz'al Gazette June I, 1.976.] 

